Bursaries for STEMM students

The STEMM bursaries for Welsh master's students have now been confirmed for the 2023/24 academic year. Please see details below.

The Welsh Government's bursary for STEMM students aims to increase the number of Welsh graduates who remain in or return to Wales to undertake a master’s degree in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine, also known as 'STEMM' subjects.

Each bursary is worth £2,000 and may be available to Welsh students studying a full taught master's degree programme at Cardiff University.

Eligibility

As stipulated by the Welsh Government, candidates can only be considered for a bursary if they are eligible for a loan as outlined on the Student Finance Wales website (excluding age restriction).

Applicants must be either ordinarily resident in Wales (and haven’t moved there for the purpose of education) for the past three years. Ordinarily resident is defined as ‘habitually, normally and lawfully resided in that area from choice’. Temporary absences will be excluded.
Candidates must be undertaking a Postgraduate Taught STEMM Course at Cardiff University. (See list of eligible courses)
Candidates who started a course before September 2023 are not eligible for a bursary.
Bursaries are available to candidates applying to full-time (normally one year) and part-time (normally two years) programmes of study.
Part-time students will receive the bursary over two years of study.
The bursaries are non-means tested i.e. will not depend on an applicant’s family income and will be granted in the form of a tuition fee waiver.
Bursary recipients are also eligible to apply for the postgraduate master’s support package for Welsh students (terms and conditions apply).
If you are funded by other government funding such as Social Care Wales, NHS/HEIW, DHSSPS or Research Councils (KESS II) you will not be eligible for a STEMM bursary. However, candidates applying for other non-government funded postgraduate awards (subject to meeting eligibility criteria), including Cardiff University Master’s Excellence Scholarships, can be considered.
Eligibility of candidates applying for a Welsh Postgraduate Loan will be confirmed by the Student Loan Company.
Candidates who do not apply for a Welsh Postgraduate Loan will be asked by the Bursaries, Scholarships and Money Support Team to complete a proforma and supply additional information to prove eligibility.

Eligible programmes

For 2023/24 the following master’s programmes are eligible for the STEMM bursaries:

Other funding

You are eligible for a STEMM bursary even if you receive:

How to apply

There is no formal application process for a STEMM bursary. Bursaries will automatically be awarded 'first-come, first-served' based on when you accept your offer to study an eligible programme at Cardiff University. We may contact you to ask that you provide some evidence to confirm your eligibility.

To secure a bursary, you must complete the following steps:

Apply for an eligible programme starting at Cardiff University in starting in 2023/24.
Formally accept your offer of study.
If you are eligible for a STEMM bursary, you will receive confirmation by email by the beginning of September.
Final enrolment and funding checks will be complete prior to payment in semester two. All bursaries will be awarded as a tuition fee discount.

Terms and conditions

Bursaries cannot be deferred. Candidates must take up the bursary by the date stated in the award letter. The bursary will be lost if candidates choose to start on an alternative date. The bursary will be rescinded if a candidate transfers to a non-STEMM course.
If you are not applying for a postgraduate loan and the University judges you to be ineligible for a bursary, based on the documentation you have provided, then you have 14 days to submit new documentation for review to use as your appeal against the decision.
Bursary holders will be encouraged to participate in public relations and ambassadorial activities on a voluntary basis during your time at Cardiff University. These may include (but are not limited to) interviews, photo opportunities and attendance at events, but will not interfere with your studies. It is anticipated that voluntary activities will not exceed 50 hours throughout the duration of your studies.
Having accepted an award, a bursary holder may not withdraw from the scheme save in exceptional circumstances and subject to the approval of the Committee and the relevant Head(s) of College(s)/Chair of Board of Studies. Failure to observe this regulation may render the student liable to repay to the University any award which has been made either in whole or in part as determined by the Admissions and Recruitment Committee.
If it is deemed necessary for a bursary holder to suspend their studies, the bursary will not be held on University account and carried forward to the year of resumption of studies. The student will be personally liable for remaining tuition fees.
If, in the view of the appropriate Head of School, a bursary holder’s progress is deemed to be unsatisfactory, the bursary may be withdrawn. A bursary may also be withdrawn on the grounds of failure to comply with any of the conditions attached to the award. In either case, the Secretary of the Admissions and Recruitment Group will notify the student of the reasons for the withdrawal. The candidate may be required to repay to the University any award which has been made, either in whole or in part, as determined by the Committee. If the student feels that such a withdrawal is unjustified, they may appeal in writing to the Chair of the Admissions and Recruitment Group within 15 working days of the date of notification. The Senate reserves the right to make, amend, withdraw, suspend or cancel without notice these and such other Regulations as may be in force from time to time and such decisions shall be final.

Contact

If you are not sure about your eligibility or have any queries, please contact student connect for further information:

Student Connect

: studentconnect@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2251 8888